That mic is a POS. I would stick with the 57 and 58, which are great mics.

A condenser isnt better than a dynamic mic, just different. You can expect more high end and detail from a condenser. Translated into CAD GXL terms, thsi means thin and abraisive. Better to stick with the 'smooth with bite' sound of a 57.

Tehre are some decent inexpensive condensers out there if youre really interested. Check out Audio Technica (40 series), Studio Projects, and Kel Audio (HM-1).

You may also want to check out the Marshall 990 and 991 condensors. They are fairly inexpensive and I was satisified with their sound quality. I tested them aginst a Nady, Audio techna, and some off brand dynamic mic and they did a better job of recording. The 991 did a really good job with acoustic recording and the 990 made a world of difference on vocal recording. The dynamic mics are more geared for Live use since the sound harmonics are reproduced when the come back through the sound system. However, I noticed when I recorded some vocals they sounded shallow because the harmonics were not really present in the recording. When I tried the condensor mics it captured more of the harmonics and generated a much warmer sound that sounded more like my natural voice. WHat I did with my test is I recorded the same song using a different mic each time then listening to them and also getting input from others which one produced the best quality. I did this with both voice and a classical guitar. The condensor mic was not much different than the dynamic when it came to the guitar. Of course I've been playing instruments since I was 7 and have been singing in groups for 13 years so my ears are trained a bit differently so these observations are only my opinion.

Those marshall mics are tubeless so there is even still more room for better quality but such mics are much more expensive. Bang for buck I'd look into the Marshall 990/991 recording kit or seperate, there is usually a few for sale on e-bay.

I use an Audio Technica 3035 on electric guitar fairly often, nice warm tone, handles high SPL's well, and you can find them for about $135 these days. Great for vocals as well.

a 3035 would be nice as would a HM-1 on guitar cabs. But, you will still be using the SM57 on cabs regardless. It may be in conbination with something else but you will still use it. I would focus on a mic for vocals.

Personally, I like the AT-3035 too. But what I'd do is use both on guitar amp, with the SM-57 stationed directly in front, while the condensor is positioned roughly a couple of feet away (your choice as far as proximity is concerned). That way I can tailor the sound to fit my taste. With the addition of a good condensor, you're just stacking the ol' tool arsenal...

I agree the 3035 is a dream on vocals for sure.

It may also quickly become your "go-to" mic for acoustic guitar and other acoustic stringed instruments.

I've used it for electric guitar and it does ok.

Works great as a room mic because of it's extremely low self-noise and ability to pickup transients so smoothly and so well.

The 3035 is a wise investment for a lot of reasons.

A step up to "the bigtime"? Doesn't have to be a big financial step, nor does it have to be "cheap".

For instance, you might just upgrade your dynamic mics? Electrovoice RE -20 or Sennheiser 421, for instance. In the same ballpark as cheap condensers, price-wise, but genuine professional, multi-purpose mics, for which you will always find use's. I have used condenser mics up into the mega-buck range that don't neccessarily sound any "better" than either of these two - though, as stated above, they can be "different", possibly more suited to a particular task, but not "better"...

I would, if at all possible, pair one of the better dynamics with a good condenser(Which, along with your SM's, would provide, already, a very respectable "mic closet".), but, as I am unfamiliar with "cheap condensers", I can only recommend one like the AKG C414, as(Today) an economical, and again, thouroughly professional multi-purpose condenser mic. The AKG(Or, say, the Beyerdynamic MC34 or an AT, or other "not cheap" nice condenser.) would provide unquestioned excellence, by any standard, at a quite reasonable price.

TG